The European Union's Immigration Policy towards South Mediterranean: Evaluation and Assessment

Abstract

Recogni zing the importa nce that migration plays in the cuncnt globa l affa irs, a l ongside with the positi ve rol e that mi g rati on can play i n the process of huma n devel opment in both sending and recei ving coun tries. In this li ght, thi s study a ims to a nalyze how can flows of immigrat i on from the South Mcditenanean Region to the European Union be best managed in order to achieve the desirabl e benefi ts for both sides. The st ud y reac hed to th e following conclusion s: 1- Though mi gration has been found to pose specific challenges to both countries of destination a nd as well to cou n tries of origin , but it provides certa in opportunities that are inherent to it. While the cha llenges are serious, th ey should n ot be a ll owed to diminish the potentia l benefit of migration. 2- The demographic changes taking place in Europe might soon tum into an obstacle to sustainable econom ic growth and social wel fa re. Severa l decades of low birth rates result in shrinking numbers of new entrants on labor markets, w hile low fertili ty combined wi th continuous progresses of the l ongevity res ul t in increasi ng numbers of reti red people. Contrasting wi th the negative demographic trends in Europe, most developing regions in its southern neighborhood a re still experi encing relati vel y high rates of popula tion growth, peaking at working ages. Thus, Managing flows of econom ic migra tion from E urope's sou thern neigh borhood where labor i s in surplus to Europe where shortages are expected in the near future, is thus regarded as potentia ll y beneficial to both countries of destination and of origin. 3- The EU needs migration which is well managed and carried out in wide cooperation in vol v ing all potential stakeholders. Consequentl y, fUJ1her consultations with south Meditenanean countri es will be needed.